Dehairing-machine.



1 1 92,908. Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

1. W. KOHLHEPP.

DEHAIRING MACHNE.

APPUCMION mw SEPT` 24. m3.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2 1. W. KHLHEPP.

DEHAIRING MACHiNE.

APPLIQAHQN man SEPT. 24, i913.

s SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Aug. 1

.|. W. KOHLHEPP.l

UEHIRING MACHINE,

APPLxcATmN man SEPT. 24. ma.

Patented Aug; l, l

5 SHEETSMSHE 4x 1. W. KOHLHEPP.

DEHMRING MACHINE.

APPLxcMxoN man SEPT. 24l 1913.

l 1 92,908. Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. t

JOHN VI. KOHLHEP, OF CHICAGO, ILLNOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ALLBRIGHT-NELL COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

DEHAIRNG-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. l 1916.

Application icd September 24, 1913. Serial No. 791,475.

lie it known that l, Join.` iV. hlm-miner, a citizen of the lrrnitcd States, and a resident ot' the cit)v of (fhicatfo, in the county of Cook and State of illinois. han.` invented certain new and u--.ci`ul improvements in DchairingL-Machines: and i do hereliv de clare vthat the followingY is a fuli. clear, and exact description ot' the same. reference lic,- ing had to the accompanvinzcr drawings` and to the numbers ot' reference marlied thereon, which torni a part ot this spccitication.

This invention relater` to that class of de haii-ing machines in which the carcass` to be treated is conveyed past a rotative heater shaft or shati's and ,subjected during;Y its passage to the ccntiiuionsy action ot said heaters and sinanltaneouslv suoiected to a spray of hatr water to loosen the hair and bristles.

ln the devices heretofore used for this and related purposes, the ca|'c:'.stes some times have i-een movrd past the shaitliv gravity, in some instances have heen deiiv cred through a rotating! c vlindcr and in others have been suliiected to the action ot" the machine while supported or pai-tl)Y supported upon rollers or upon a convever actin;r transverselv ois the axes of the heater shafts. ln all such machines it has proven exceetlingrll,` ditiicult. it' not impossibler` to regulan) the lfis :if (iillttl Uf tllt', t'tllt'lSSOs through the machine and lo iirairc the satisfactory operation upon all the carcasses` for in such machines it frwplentliv happens` that, some ot' the carcasses pass through much too rapidi)v to permit the desired etlect to be produced and in other instances the carcasses move so slowlv through the machine as to he subjected For too long); a period to the beating action with the etl'ect in some cases, of iniuringr the product. ln other machines, the carcasses have heen passed through the machine upon a convever from which they are suspended and hv means of which the rate ot' dcliveiv through the machine maiv he satistactorilv wgnlated but the installation of such machines is so ctv pensive as to render the use thereof almost prohibitive except in the, lav-gest plants.

The object of this invention is to afford a machine of the class described in which the rate ot delivery ot' the carcasses through the machine may be perfectly controlled and by means otl which the carcasses are subjected uniformly to the proper beating action and vfor the proper period of time, in passing' through the machine.

lt is also an object ot the invention to afford a construction in which the carcasses artl continuously rolled or rotated while acted upon 'ov the beaters to insure every part thereof being presented to the action of the dehairingf mechanisms.

It is t'urther an obiect ot the invention to atl'ord a construction affording' a positive `support tor the carcasses for their entire length during; treatment, said support serving as a convever to deliver the carcasses through the machine.

lt is also an object of the invention to aii'ord means for holding the carcasses from too rapid travel through the machine and to continuousl)v roll the carcasses duringr the dchairingl process.

lt is an object of the invention also to afford mechanism for removing the hair and rct'use from the machine and to atiord an auxiliar)v adjustable or releasable beating mechanism permitting! in certain instances the removal of carcasses from the machine and at all times preventing! the undue or injurious action upon any carcass that may have become detached from the conveying llltlllss'.

l `inall \v it is an object of the invention to atl'ord in thc simplest possible manner and with the least possible mechanism, a device to which the carcasses may be fed in exceedinel)v close arrangement and wherein they are delivered through and from theI machine ohliiplelv with the heaters acting thereon and whereby the same are at all times subjected to a continuous rolling action during! treatnient.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more fully pointed out and lt-lined in the appended claims.

ln the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view ot' a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line ii of Fic'. l. Figi, 4 is a fragmentary enlarged plan chwation with the heater shafts and frame line 12-12 suitable runway 2.

corresponding approximately frame of any desired construction side of the wall 3,

60 lapping lags or 5 4. Fig. 8 is an enlarged` fragmentary longitudinal section takenthrough the ccnveyer. Fig. 9 isan enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section taken on line 9--9 of Fig. 4, and

`illustrating the construction and operation- 10 of the chain conveyer and the take olf mechanism. Fig. 10 isk an enlarged transverse section on line 10-10 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is an outer tace view ot' the detaching or take ott disk. Fig. 12 is a section ou thereof, showing also the sprocket wheel in section.

As shown in the drawings, said machine 1sr installed to receive the. scalded carcasses from the scalding tank 1, upon a table or Said tank may be of any desired construction. shape or size and connected continuously therewith and extend ing beneath the dehairing mechanism is an extensionot' the trough in length and width with the di mensions ot' the dehairing mechanism and inclined toward, and in open comniunication with the trough to ,lischarge thereinto. Said extension is supported upon a suitable and journaled in the side walls of said tank extension, are shafts -1 and a, one near each cud of said tank extension, as shown in Figs. l to 7 inclusive. As shown, the outer end oi 35 the shaft 4, is provided with a driving pulley Wheel 6 and rigidly keyed on said shatt also adjacent the pulley wheel o, is a sprocket wheel 7. .Rotatively secured on the opposite end ot' said shaft at the inner is a sprocket wheel 8, and on the outer extremity ot the shaft as shown, is a smaller sprocket wheel i), and a bevel gear 10. Rotatably secured on the shaft within said tank adjacent the sprocket wheel is a sprocket wheel l1` and sprocket wheels 12, 13, and 14, of any desired nuniber, depending upon the width ot' the mas chine, are also rotatably mounted on said shaft and spaced apart `from one another for a purpose hereinafter pointed out. Secured atxthe op-` upon the compleinental shaft 57 posite end of the trough extersion, is a'relatively small sprocket wheel 15, and rigidly secured on said shaft and corresponding in position with the sprocket wheels 11, 12, 13

and 14. are sprocket Wheels 19, and trained about said on said shafts 4 and 5, 20, on which are 16, 17, 1S and sprocket wheels arc link chain belts secured transverse overplates 21. which are of a length to extend'from that side ot the tank extension in alinement with the trough to the chain next the outer of said linkchains. That is to say, said plates .21 (where four sprocket Wheels are employed) in length extend practically two thirds ofthe width of the trough extension, but as shown in Figs. 4 and 7 a few lags or beds pieces 22. which are. arranged at approximately equal distances apart. are longer. than the lags 21, and extend to. andare cminected with the outer link'chain Q0, as shown in Fig. 4. Supported below said extended lag plates 22, is a table 23, which is supported wholly within said trough extension and at a height such that the extended ends ot' the bed pieces 22 will scrape thereover to remove all hair and refuse falling upon said table to deliver the same therefrom.

Trained about the sprocket wheel 7, on the shaft it, and the sprocket`r wheel 15, on the shaft 5, is a sprocket chain 21. which drives said shaft 5, and consequently the endlel hed or lag conveyor in the constructio y -15t described. Looselv secured upon the :aft 5i, at the end thereof' opposite the sprori. i wheel 1.5.. and within the trough is a relatiiely large sprocket uheei *2.3, and secured on the inner face thereof and projecting beyond the teeth of the same is a disk 26, which is provided with a peripheral inwardly directed llange 27, which on diainetrically opposite sides is notched inwardly in the side adjacent the sprocket wheel to a depth corresponding to or slightly in excess ot the throat between the teeth. Said sprocket wheel 25, is provided with an elongated hub QS, which projects through the stuiiing box or hearing in the side of the trough extension and keyed on the outer end of said huh is a sprocket wheel Q1), ot' relatively large size.

Trained about the. sprocket wheel 9, on the shaft 4. and the sprocket wheel 29, which is amiroxiinately twice the diameter ot the sprocket D. and is mounted on the shaftl 5, is a sprocket chain Si), so thai the drive heing communicated from the relatively small sprocket wheel 9. the sprocket and, of course, the sprocket wheel 2, rigidly connected therewitii. rotate approximately one halt as fast as the sprocket 9.

Trained about the sprocket wheel 25. and the sprocket wheel within the trough extension is the retarding chain 31. which, as shown in Fig. 9, comprises connected duplicate links ot a familiar kind engaged transversely together by means of rivets 32, on which are engaged rollers 33, which are engaged by the teeth oi said sprocket wheels. An outwardly directed hook 34. is secured on the inner end of one of the rivet pintles connecting the links of the chain, said hook being so disposed as to he directed upwardly of the upper runot said couveyer chain. A rigid ,guide is provided for said chain on the inner wall 3, of said tar?? ere tension. For this purpose', as sheay i,

,Y impact to remove the hair and bristles from v guide rail 35, preferably constructed of metal may be either milled longitudinally to afford an open longitudinal slot to receive the pintles therein, and a broader space for the chain links, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, or the same may be constructed of structural steel such as Z bars or angles rigidly secured together to afford a track of the desired width, and as shown, secured on the upper edge of said guide rail and projecting rearwardly of the tank is av guard 62, of any stiff but comparatively resilient ma terial, the edge of which projects down over the throat of the hook and bears against the tongue of the hook, as shown in Fig. 10.

The scalded carcasses are delivered upon the endless belt coni-ayer and a gambrel chain on the carcass is engaged over said hook 34, and, inasmuch as the retarding chain travels at half the rate of the endless bed conveyor, the said retarding chain tends to retard the travel of the carcasses toward the discharge position.

Mounted upon a suitable frame (which, of course, may be of any desired character), and journaled obliquely with the endless bed conveyer, as shown in Fig. i, is the main rotative beater shaft 36, on which are secured beaters of any suitable kind, Which serve to strike, beat, scrape, massage or by the scalded carcass. In the drawings said beaters are shown as looped beaters 37, constructed of exible material such as rubber belting, and arranged in pairs at right anglesl with each other, said loops beingof a length as clearly shown in Fig. 2, to extend nearly to the surface of the endless bed conveyer. .AS shown, said main beater shaft 36, at its end adjacent the scalding tank is at its greatest distance from the retarding or conveying chain 31, and thence extends obliquely across the conveyer and toward the opposite end of the -machine, as shown in Fig. 1. Journaled' also on said rame is a relatively short beater shaft 38 .having also looped beaters 39, thereon, and which run as before describedclose to the surface of the bed conveyer. Said beater shafts are driven from the shaft 4, as follows: A relatively short shaft 40, is journaled longitudinally of the scalding tank, and is provided with a bevel gear 41, which meshes With a bevel gear 10, before described. A sprocket wheel 42, is provided on the opposite end of said shaft 40 about which is trained a sprocket chain 43, which drives to a sprocket Wheel 44, on a shaft 45, located above the shaft 40, and secured on said shaft 44, is another sprocket Wheel corresponding with the sprocket wheel 44, just described and about which is trained a sprocket chain 46, which drives to a suitable sprocket Wheel on the auxiliary' beater shaft 38, and from which a sprocket wheel 49, drives the sprocket chain 50, which is trained about a sprocket wheel 51, on the main beater shaft 36. Both of said beater shafts, as shown, rotate to strike downwardly and from the conveyer chain 31. At the opposite end of said machine and in the triangular space corresponding With that actuated by the auxiliary beater 38, but on the opposite side of the machine, is a rotatably adjustable beater shaft 52, provided with flexible beaters 53, such as before described and likewise extending close to the endless bed conveyer. Said beater shaft, as shown, is journaled in bearings 54, secured at the inner ends of Weighted levers 55, pivoted near their middle on suitable supports on the frame and on tbe outerI ends of which are the weights 56. As shown, the main beater shaft 36, is provided with a sprocket wheel at its rear end which drives to a corresponding sprocket wheel 57, at the rear end of the adjustable beaterl shaft 52, by means of a sprocket chain 58, trained therearound. A rotary or any suitable pump 59 driven in any suitable manner, is connected by means of the pipe 60, with the scalding tank or other source of hot Water supply and a pipe 61, extends to a point centrally of the endless bed conveyer and above the main beater shaft whereby the hot Water is sprayed on-the carcasses as they pass beneath through the spray head 63.

The operation is as follows: The scalded carcasses are delivered from the trough upon the endless bed conveyer and the ring of the swiveled gambrel chain is engaged on one of the hooks 34, of the conveyer chain. The travel of the endless bed conveyer carries the carcasses immediately beneath the beater shafts, and, owing to the direction of rotation thereof, as Well as the retardation to the movement of the carcass by the conveyer chain, said carcasses are maintained in a position extending approximately transversely of the, beater shafts In consequence of this differential movement and the fact that the carcasses are constantly beaten the carcasses are Continuously rotated or rolled over` and over,' arranging themselves automatically under the action of the beaters substantially in parallel relation across the bedv conveyer, in this Way enabling a very large number to be operated upon at ,the same time with the most satisfactory results. The hair and refuse removed from the carcasses are thrown by the beaters laterally upon the table Q3, the upper end of which terminates a short distance from the end of the tank, and thence by the long lags` or bed pieces 22, are scraped into the tank extension and gradually slide down into the scalding tank to be removed after the days operation. Should any of the carcasses break away from the gambrel chain,

^ the ring in said chain and releasing the can.

thebeaters tend, ofcourse, to f throw the same across the endless'bed conveyer` and Vupon the table, in `which event the adjustable beater shaft 57,'which ordinarily operates only upon the heads of the carcasses, 1s

` pressed upwardljyr by the action of the beat the carcasses are moved on the bed conveyer to `the discharge end thereof, the gambrel chainv is drawn by the h oolc 34, slides into the not-ch in said periphery, thereby withdrawing the hook from cass, permittingv the Vsame jto fall upon a suitable table. or runway. Ofcourse, any kind of a casing may be provided to surround and inclose or partly surroundand inclose the `deliair-iiig mechanism to prevent the wvater, spray or other refuse being thrown from the` machine. angular arrangement of the with reference to the conveyer should be such as to afford thebest results and this may, ot course, be varied ss desired, and if desired, the length of the endless bed con; Veyer'and the rute of drive thereof maybe as preferred.

Numerous,details of' construe-,tion and arrangement may obviously he'varied for I haveshown hut a preferred'construction of a device embodying my invention and have not attemptedto illustrate orjdescrihe any ofthe numerous modifications andeqniy'a lent"iconstructions which may embody this vinvention.v l therefore do not purpose .limiting this application for patent otherwise than neccssitatedby the prior art.

claim as m'y invention: Vl. The eombinationwvith a scalding tank,

Vof a conveyer acting in nlinement therewith,

a rotative shaft Ijournaled above the same,

flexible beaters there-on acting to beat'- the.

carcasses snpportedon said Aconveyer, Iand means grappling the carcass and retarding the same from movement with the. conveyer.

2. The `combinationwith a scaldingtank und convex-'ing means to receive the 'carcassestherefromin substantiallyhorizontal pesic7 tion, bf :1 beater shaft arranged shore the same to. strike downwardly'thereon, end

swiveled means retarding the movement of the carcasses' on the conveyor but permitting rotation 'of the cnrcaes thereon.

3. In a device of the class described e conveyer, bester shafts journaled adjacent the. to to -r-perete on a. carcass carried on said conrcyer., and -Y r moving at al simi-er rate' of speed tin l conveyer and positively connected to said carcasses to reretarding chain 31, v over the flange 27, on the disk 26, Whilethe-v mechanism supported in said: taiik extension Of course, the beater A shafts the line of travel and parallelfvthepl'ii move scalded carcasses Qhliquelyipast sa d;

lessbed conveyerfhavingits' .supporti g, substantiallyparallel the shaft, anlmovrng .oblquely thereto and acting tomove therbeater shaft. 'i

tard the same from movement but .permittingthe carcasses to rotate onA the conveye'r while operated upon by said beaters..

4. The combination n'ith a scalding tank and an inclined endless bed conveyer adjacent thereto acting to receive the carcasses therefrom,v means for driringsaid conveyer, andmeans for retarding` the carcasses there-' on, of a beater-shaft journaled obliquely. tov the line of travel of said' conveyor and' beat-3 ers thereon for striking the carcassesoiifsidj; conveyer. l. v ,f

- The combination withya scalding-tnk i andV an inclined extension thereof o'pening' thereinto at its lower end, I off'1 dehair'ing and 'embracing an inclined @werent-rota? tive beater shaft obliquelylzdspose '.aboire" thc'same and parallel theplanether flexible beaters on said'shafts-actin'g the scolded carcaes veyer..

6. In a machine ofthelass'described'-th Str movable o n the con" combination with scalding trnkgo'f clined endless bed conveyer :icting'ftofre the carcasses therefrom, a beatershaf naled above saidconveyer-and oblique said conveyor, flexiblebeaters-mounted n said beater shaft 'of a leng.th'mo citt-l1@ t-A near the -topj of'said conveyer, n'ndopeifat connections for driving said conveyer. and said shaft., .f

j 7. The combination with a beater-"shaft ind` flexible beaters thereon, fof 'a Aflt' dz s conveyer so disposed relatiyetheretoa shaft, and Within the field of notionth 8. The combination With'a rotative be shaft nnd f l'eXible' beatersthereori, of-il` carcasses rplaced thereor'r transversely li said shftif J 9..v In a machine of the class'describeden inclined bester shaft, lin-ving beater'sthereon, an endless bedv conveyer snbsta'ntzrlly'pa allel theretoandl delivering longitudinally o f thesane, end me'ans retardi'ng 'the trs've of the careassesvon; said co'nveyex `and t o the carcasses substantially. `tran gether with said .beaters 'assisting -t-df'hold" lOLjAIn a machine f rotative beater shaft flexiblebeate th'e axis (if-said, shaft aindtijavelinN4 -oblrqu ly of the same,l vmeans for-- driving'V said veyer and shaft, and -auxiliary Vs haftsarnl beaters thereon arranged on each side ofthe first named shaft' and actingon'parts or'- the vcarcass lprojecting beyond the-ieldlof' the main beater-shaft, I

a conveyer 11. ln a machine of the class described the scalding tank and relativeli7 flat conveying means for the scalded carcasses, of a plurality of beater shafts journaled above the same and adapted to act simultaneously on the carcasses when extended approximately horizontal thereon, and means projecting from said conveying means and moving therewith for discharging the hair and refuse from said machine.

1Q. 1n a machine of the class described the combination with an inclined continuous bed conveyer, of a retarding means traveling at a slower rate, mechanisms by which the carcasses are adapted to be detachably engaged to said means, shafts journaled above said conveyer, beaters thereon adapted to act on the carcasses when on said conveyer, and automatic meansy at the discharge end of the conveyor' for detaching said mechanisms from said means,

13. In a machine of the class dy scribed relatively flat movable supporting and conveying means for carcasses, a rotatable beater shaft ionrnaled obliiinielv parallel the plane of, but above the same. beaters thereon in position to operate on the can casses thereon, and an npwardliy adjtstable beater shaft arranged adjacent the first named shaft and operating beyond the field thereof.

14. ln a device of the class described a rotatable beater shaft, beaters thereon, and for the carcasses and means associated therewith to cause said earcas,-ies to move in substantially horizontal position obliquely along said shaft and extended transversely of said ciinveyer.

15. In a machine of thc class described a conveyer a retarding mechanism embracing a chain, movable at a less rate than the con veyer, means attaching the carcasses there to and permitting the same to be supported and rolled by said conveyor, and automatic means for detaching said means at the end of the operation from said chain.

16. In a machine of the class described the combination with the conveyer and the dehairing mechanism, of a retarding means embracing a chain movable adjacent the conveyer and at a slower speed than the conveyer, hooks on said chain adapted to engage swiveled gambrel chains and means for detachingy the gambrel chains from the hooks at the point of discharge from the machine.

17. In a machine of the class described means for rotating the carcasses embracing the inclined rotative beater shaft and its beaters, the inclined conveyer adaeted to move the carcasses obliquely thereof, and the retarding means adapted to afford attachment for the carcasses and movable at a slower rate than the first named conveyer.

418. In a device of the class described an inclined endiess bed comvyer, a stationary fable arrmiged alongside the same to receive the rcfu: nd extended lags or plates on said bed conichver adapted to sneep the table of accimndaielii refuse and dclnriring n'iechanism mounted with referenc f to said table,

1f). ln a dehairing` mechanism the combination with a pluralitY of inclined rotative beater shafts and beaters thereon moving to contact a carcass transversely to the. direction o'f travel thereof. of an endless bed conveyer arranged beneath the beaters and movable obliquely and longitudinally thereof, means arranged at. one side of the conveyer to resist the draft of the beaters on said carcasses whereby said carcasses are caused to assume a position ransveiselyv the beater rafts.

Q0. ln. a machine of the class ,lescribed Vinciined rotative beater shafts, iiexible bcateis thereon, means supporting and moving the carcasses 9o be treated obliiniely and longitlnlinaltv of said shaft or sha tts and extended landwirt-ally and appr imately transwrsel) of said shafts, and a hot water spray delivering en said carcasses.

The (oiailiiiation nitli beater shafts, beaters thereon. of a itat conveyer movable obliqnelv beneath the shafts and substantially parallel to the axis thereof, a retarding me: ne minable ai. a slower rato alongside the wav :r and adapted to afford enga 'enngnt to] .c rare-aar ,s to rr, ist the draft of the br.. thereon wliiercby said carcasses are eviended iioriaontally and transversely beneath the beater shatts and are contimionslv roiated.

22. ln a deban-ing machine of the class described zin inclined coniever, means positivoli` voorw 'mi to fxarrassifs carried on said vom .retard the movement of the earfassi i thereon. lis-ale] shafts arranged above said ver, beatrix, thereon, said shafts and beaters nzoviir' a` direction to advancithe rz. the direction of movement of the convever, and driving means for iid .shafts and said conreyer.

2li. ln a deban-ing machine of the class described a platform convemver, means positively connected to a ^.:iicass carried on said 'fonvever to retard the movement of the carcass on said conveyor. :i plurality of shafts jolnnaied parallel thc plane of said convever and obliqnelj.' to the direction 0f iii i4 lll imovement thereof, beaters thereon revolvadapted for positive connection to u carcass on said conveyor to retard the movement of the carcass with the convyor, and a plurality of beater mechanisms mounted parallei the plano of said Conveyor and positioned obliquely to the direction of movement thereof.

In testimony Whreo" I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN NV. KOHLHEPP.

fitnessus LAWRENCE REIBSTEIN, CHARLES W. HILLS, Jr. 

